Description

SOURTON SOURTON SX 59 SW

8/127 Church of St Thomas of Canterbury - 22.2.67

GV II*

Parish church. C14 chancel rebuilt in 1848, the rest C15, restored in 1881. The chancel walls are of local stone rubble, otherwise the walls are of granite ashlar. Gable ended slate roofs with C19 coping stones to gables. Plan comprises nave, chancel, north aisle, west tower and south porch. The chancel probably has the earliest origins dating back to the C14 although it was substantially rebuilt in 1848. The rest of the Church is C15 - the aisle judging from its windows is late C15 but it may postdate the nave and tower. The south porch has no dateable features and was probably also largely rebuilt in the C19. The Church was restored in 1881. 3-stage west tower is crenellated with 4 plain pinnacles and set back buttresses with off-sets. Chamfered plinth. 2-light straight-headed belfry lights. The west doorway has a 4-centred stone arch with hollow and roll moulding and an arched hoodmould which continues as a stringcourse. The west window is granite with 3 lights and simple tracery in the Decorated style which has probably been restored. Above the window is an arched hoodmould which continues as the stringcourse. The north aisle has a 2-light straight-headed chamfered granite mullion window in its west wall which is likely to have been inserted in the C17. The 2 north windows have moulded granite jambs and chamfered mullions with cinquefoiled heads. The right-hand window has had its head restored and is 2-light; the other is original and of 3 lights. Both have square hoodmoulds. Between the 2 is a buttress. At the east end of the aisle is a 2-light granite window with very simple late Perpendicular tracery. The aisle has a coved granite cornice and a chamfered plinth. The east window is a 3-light C19 restoration in the Decorated style.- On the south side the chancel has 2 windows -a similar 2-light restored Decorated style window to the left and a single trefoiled lancet to its right which is of granite with an arched hoodmould and is probably original. The south aisle has a coved stone cornice and chamfered plinth. Its window to the east is probably original, of granite with 3 cinquefoiled lights, the central one taller. To the west of the porch is a 2-light mullion window with probably restored mullion and cinquefoiled heads. The single storey gabled south porch has a plain rubble stone arched doorway with chamfered imposts. Above it is a slate sundial. Interior: Porch has plastered wagon roof. Remains of holy water stoup. The granite south doorway has an acute 4-centred arch with hollow chamfer and worn stops. The interior of the church has been rendered in the C20. 3-bay granite arcade to north aisle of depressed 4-centred arches with Pevsner A-type piers which have deep moulded cup capitals and moulded bases. Similar tall 4-centred chancel arch which springs from a corbel on the left-hand side. Tall rendered pointed tower arch. The rood screen has been removed but the opening to its stairs survives. There is a squint from the aisle to the chancel. Roof: Over the nave and aisle are wagon roofs which incorporate some old timbers. The roof to the nave has carvings in high relief to its purlins and principal raftes with some old colouring of red and gold surviving. The bosses and wall-plates have been renewed. The aisle roof is very similar but uncoloured and also preserves its old wall-plate on the north side which has crude carved angels holding shields. The chancel roof is completely renewed and the seating is also C19. Large royal coat of arms of Charles II is preserved on the north wall but was formerly in the tower. C20 granite font. Sources: Beatrix Cresswell - Churches in the Deanery of Okehampton : White's Directory 1878 ; Kelly's Directory 1897.

Listing NGR: SX5358790295

External Links

• Wikidata Q17537545

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Recommended Books

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  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
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  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
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  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)